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When you think of the iconic animals of Africa, the lion is probably on the top of your list. Sadly, according to report by conservation group <a title="Welcome to LionAid- LionAid" href="http://www.lionaid.org/" target="_blank">LionAid</a>, a total of just 640 lions remain in all of western and central Africa. Already extinct in 25 African nations and disappearing in 10 others, the catastrophic decline in lion populations can be attributed to high levels of poverty, an undeveloped wildlife tourism industry, and a lack of political interest in conservation....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/conservation-group-reports-that-west-african-lions-are-on-the-verge-of-extinction/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

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Male African Lion

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/conservation-group-reports-that-west-african-lions-are-on-the-verge-of-extinction/lion/" rel="attachment wp-att-474411"></a><em>Photo via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&amp;search_source=search_form&amp;version=llv1&amp;anyorall=all&amp;safesearch=1&amp;searchterm=lions&amp;search_group=#id=111051572&amp;src=c36ef8569dc16b498b74906c1935f479-1-13">Shutterstock</a></em>
When you think of the iconic animals of Africa, the lion is probably on the top of your list. Sadly, according to report by conservation group <a title="Welcome to LionAid- LionAid" href="http://www.lionaid.org/" target="_blank">LionAid</a>, a total of just 640 lions remain in all of western and central Africa. Already extinct in 25 African nations and disappearing in 10 others, the catastrophic decline in lion populations can be attributed to high levels of poverty, an undeveloped wildlife tourism industry, and a lack of political interest in conservation....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/conservation-group-reports-that-west-african-lions-are-on-the-verge-of-extinction/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

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Female African Lion with Cubs

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/conservation-group-reports-that-west-african-lions-are-on-the-verge-of-extinction/lion/" rel="attachment wp-att-474411"></a><em>Photo via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&amp;search_source=search_form&amp;version=llv1&amp;anyorall=all&amp;safesearch=1&amp;searchterm=lions&amp;search_group=#id=111051572&amp;src=c36ef8569dc16b498b74906c1935f479-1-13">Shutterstock</a></em>
When you think of the iconic animals of Africa, the lion is probably on the top of your list. Sadly, according to report by conservation group <a title="Welcome to LionAid- LionAid" href="http://www.lionaid.org/" target="_blank">LionAid</a>, a total of just 640 lions remain in all of western and central Africa. Already extinct in 25 African nations and disappearing in 10 others, the catastrophic decline in lion populations can be attributed to high levels of poverty, an undeveloped wildlife tourism industry, and a lack of political interest in conservation....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/conservation-group-reports-that-west-african-lions-are-on-the-verge-of-extinction/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

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Lion

Photo via Shutterstock
When you think of the iconic animals of Africa, the lion is probably on the top of your list. Sadly, according to report by conservation group LionAid, a total of just 640 lions remain in all of western and central Africa. Already extinct in 25 African nations and disappearing in 10 others, the catastrophic decline in lion populations can be attributed to high levels of poverty, an undeveloped wildlife tourism industry, and a lack of political interest in conservation....